If you’ve been involved in the NFT sphere since 2021, you may remember the formidable presence 0N1 Force once commanded when it burst onto the scene in August. According to OpenSea, it was one of the very first real anime PFPs and had an average selling price of over 6 ETH shortly after launch. However, after a period of popularity, 0N1 Force experienced a gradual decline, with the project’s reserve price languishing below 0.30 ETH by summer 2022.
0N1 Force is emerging from the slump of 2022 and now embarks on a new chapter, bolstered by ownership and leadership changes, a redefined roadmap, and the steadfast loyalty of its community. The floor recently rose 90 percent to 1.1 ETH from May 8 to May 15 and is now maintaining a 1.5 ETH floor at the time of writing.
The project is now targeting a resurgence reminiscent of the remarkable Pudgy Penguins comeback story, with sales volumes exceeding $177 million.
A changing of the guard
The story of the resurrection of 0N1 Force begins in February 2023, when blockchain investment company Old-fashioned research (OFR) has taken over the project from the previous owners: JR, IMCMPLX, Strawberry, CryptoSpaces and LinkedEm. The new team has crypto veterans including former Binance CFO Wei Zhou and Yield Guild COO Colin Goltra.
OFR was founded in late 2021 by Zhou and fellow ex-Binance executive Wayne Fu. According to TechCrunch, it was valued at $100 million in 2022 and aims to improve and grow projects with long-term potential. According to the team, 0N1 Force was one such project. Few projects are as “groundbreaking and unique” as this one, they wrote in one February 25 Twitter thread.
Collaboration with Horiz Labs
On May 4, more important news came to the 0N1 Force community. The team announced a strategic partnership with Horizen Labs Ventures (HLV). The company has an established track record and has previously collaborated with prominent entities within the Web3 space, including Yuga Labs, ApeCoin DAO, The Sandbox, Jam City, Dust Protocol, and Animoca Brands.
The partnership is designed to leverage HLV’s experience in advising successful Web3 projects and 0N1 Force’s capabilities in IP creation. The goal is to develop story-based solutions that meet the changing needs of the digital landscape in both web2 and web3 environments.
On May 15 Twitter space0N1 Force CEO Henry Finn (AKA Star Lord) emphasized that the partnership underscores its commitment to growing and expanding its Web3 offering to its community. Further, Zhou – the strategic advisor to 0N1 Force’s ownership group emphasized, “This partnership aims to create a unique experience for the community by integrating HLV’s knowledge and 0N1 Force’s strengths.”
While there are projects in the works that haven’t been revealed yet, HLV stated in the Twitter Space that one of them will be a rewards system for holders. Finn and Degentralandwho heads the Web3 strategy for HLV, hinted at an off-chain point-staking system, as well as possible opportunities for holders to take advantage of the 0N1 Force IP both on-chain and off.
“The internal point system is a way to reward both new and OG holders by giving them a way not only to be celebrated, but to find a way to redeem both digital and physical rewards,” said Finn. “Points will also reveal a leaderboard that will provide other benefits as well.”
Franchise, R0N1N and World Club
0N1 Force’s growth isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In addition to the HLV partnership, Finn says this is just the beginning of a series of updates to come. 0N1 Force recently rolled out three application-based programs: Franchise, R0N1N, and World Club.
The franchise model aims to “incentivize and assist builders and makers within the ecosystem. The goal of the project is to equip community members who want to start their own businesses with the resources they need.”
“We offer a wide range of support in the form of marketing, network, distribution and financing,” said the 0N1 Force team. “Our goal is to help franchisees succeed by providing the tools they need to thrive.”
The World Club serves as a global social network for Web3 creators, founders, operators and brands. The club offers holders the opportunity to organize events, dinners and meetings together. Three or more members can submit a proposal to form a club within a club that matches their interests.
The R0nin Ambassador Program is a business development program for holders who want to be involved in the operations of the project and officially work on deals with leadership. While most NFT projects keep holders separate from leadership decisions, 0N1 Force encourages involvement and collaboration.
As an ambassador, participants help find new partnerships and deals while enjoying exclusive benefits and rewards. As per the image below, members will receive a unique PFP token of their ambassador status and may be eligible for bonuses, commissions and other incentives. This program offers individuals who are committed to the community the opportunity to enhance their professional network and career prospects.
The future of 0N1 Force
Despite the fact that the new management has been at the helm for less than a year, important changes and new initiatives have already been implemented. As space observes the unfolding story of 0N1 Force, the project’s journey is a testament to the community’s resilience. Having navigated through significant highs and lows, the project is currently on an upward trajectory, reaffirming its commitment to innovation and community involvement.
“What sets us apart from any other project is our community,” Finn now told nft. “We have the most dedicated community in Web3.”
With a new commander, an innovative franchise model and a loyal community, 0N1 Force demonstrates the potential to rise, fall and rise again in the ever-evolving digital landscape. While the future remains unknown, the coming times will be the ultimate test of the project’s resurgence.
“Our biggest news still hasn’t come out,” Finn said. “This is just the beginning.”
Editor’s Note: This article was written by an nft now contributor in collaboration with OpenAI’s GPT-4.